CNLC

Density Log

GS, Sudan
Oct. 2005
 CNLC
Contents

This lecture will cover :

1. Introduction

2. Density Log measurement principle

3. Compensated Density Log Tool

4. Density Porosity

5. Pe measurement and application

 CNLC

1. Introduction

• The density log is part of almost every

openhole logging suite.
• Formation bulk density, ρb is used as the
primary porosity indicator. Density is used
with other log measurements to determine
lithology and fluid type, and with sonic
velocity in seismic data interpretation.
Presentations and Scales CNLC

Formation bulk
density, ρb, is
presented in tracks 2
and 3 on a linear scale.
The most frequently
used scales forρb are
2.0 to 3.0 g/cm3 or
1.95 to 2.95 g/ cm3. A
correction curve, Δρ,
is displayed in track 3
 CNLC

2. Density Log measurement principal

Density Log is a kind of radioactive logs . It uses

a chemical cesium-137 gamma ray source to
produces 0.66 Mev gamma rays . These gamma
rays can react with formation and some of them
will be absorbed , others will be detected by
density tools . The gamma ray intensity ( count
rates ) or energy spectral can be used to estimate
formation density.
137
Ba + β- + γ
137
55
Cs
56
 CNLC
Gamma Ray reaction with formation
electron

positron
 CNLC
Relationship between Gamma Ray absorption
and formation density
Density log tools use cesium-137 source which produces
0.66Mev gamma rays and record the gamma rays with
energy larger than 0.2Mev . This is the range Compton
scattering take place(see front figure) .The gamma rays
absorption has nearly no dependence on lithology but
on formation electron density, ρe .
Suppose : A is atomic weight , Z is atomic number , the
electron density is then related to mass density by :

2Z
ρe = ρ ( )molecule
A
 CNLC

Electron Density(ρe)Calibration to Bulk Density(ρ)

The dense formation absorbed more gamma rays than
light formation.Density tools are designed to calibrate
in fresh-water-filled limestone :
for limestone ρ=2.71g/cm3 , 2Z/A = 0.999 ;
for water ρ=1.00g/cm3 , 2Z/A = 1.110 ;(see next Fig. )
Use ρe , ρ convert equation ,we can get :
ρe (lim) =2.7076g/cm3 , ρe(water) =1.1101g/cm3 .
A linear conversion is used to translate the tool’s
measurement of electron density to bulk density:

ρb = 00.1883 + 1.0704 ρe
CNLC
 CNLC

3. Compensated Density Log (CDL)Tool

• The figure shows a dual

detector CDL tool. The
source and detector are push
to contact with the borehole
wall. The short spaced
detector is designed to “look”
at mudcake while long spaced
detector to search formation.
The effect of mudcake can be
corrected by experimental
diagram .
 CNLC

Environmental Effects

The depth of
investigation
of a density
tool is quite
shallow.
The density is
subject to
effects from
mudcake,
rugosity, and
invasion.
 CNLC

4. Density porosity
The density of a mixture is a linear function of
the densities of its individual constituents, so it
is a simple matter to calculate the porosity of a
porous rock .
Suppose the clean formation with fluid-filled
pores in the right fig.
The bulk density will be :
ρb =(1 0 X)ρma+ X ρf
so we can get :
(ρma 0 ρb )
XD =
ρma 0 ρf
 CNLC
Density porosity can be found by using a calculator or
a chart (Next page)

For example, in a sandstone formation ,

where:
ρma=2.65 g/cm3
ρb=2.40 g/cm3, and
ρf=1.15 g/cm3 (salt mud filtrate)
XD =(2.65-2.40)/(2.65-1.15)=0.167
CNLC
 CNLC

Shale Effects
Suppose the formation be oil-bearing and
with shale
The bulk density will be :
ρb =(1 0 Vsh0 X)ρma+Vshρsh
water
oil X
+ X ρf shale
So,
(ρma 0 ρb ) 0 Vsh(ρma 0 ρsh) matrix
X=
ρma 0 ρb
 CNLC

5. Pe measurement and application

Photoelectric absorption occurs when gamma rays’

energy are less than 0.2Mev. The amount of gamma
rays absorbed by formation are related to formation’s
average atomic number Z :

Pe = ( Z )3.6
10 index .
Pe is photoelectric absorption
Pe is measured by Spectral Density tool (SDL) which
can record gamma rays with energy less than 0.2Mev .
Next Fig. Shows average Z number of some rocks.
 CNLC
Average Z numbers for sand, lime and dolomite
 CNLC
Lithology indicator Pe response to typical minerals
 CNLC

Application of Pe as a lithology indicator

Pe is calibrated by
limestone that filled
with fresh water. Pe
value is almost not
affected by formation
fluid but sensitive to
formation lithology . Pe
combined with other log
curves can distinguish
lithology perfectly .
 CNLC

Summary

In this lecture , we discussed :

1. Density Log measurement principle ;

2. Compensated Density Log Tool ;

3. Density Porosity compution ;

4. Pe measurement and application .

 CNLC

Question to be answered :

1. What’s the difference of electron

density(ρe ) bulk density(ρb )and mass
density(ρ) ?

2. Give a description of Pe measurement.

What can Pe use for ?